Category Archives: Native American art

In September 2016, Earth Walks traveled to the spectacular Canyon de Chelly with 12 participants. It was a deeply memorable time, which included camping in the canyon under a blanket of stars, Dine (Navajo) friend and guide Daniel Staley playing his beautiful flute music to the echoes of the notes and his ancestors and a day of service on the family farm of Kathryn Pemala.

Our canyon campsite was on Daniel’s grandparents’ land where he maintains a fruit orchard and a traditional hogan.

One magical evening found us around the campfire with Daniel playing his flute and singing traditional Dine chants in his native language. One participant had just acquired her first drum and she sent it around the group, asking each person to add their own drum beat, song or words to empower it for future drumming. The group spent a day of solitude near the powerful Spider Rock. That evening the group participated in a traditional sweat lodge. Our final day in the canyon was spent in a service activity on the family farm of Kathryn Pemala, long time weaver, who has lived her entire life in the canyon. As she weaves, she hears the voices and stories of her ancestors which are woven into the fabric of her work.

Dine (Navajo) weaver

The group help harvest corn and plums, pulled weeds and enjoyed conversation with Kathryn and family members. It was all too soon that we had to leave.

If you would like to join us on these or other journeys or create a special Earth Walks for yourself, family, friends or business please be in touch. Meanwhile, Happy Trails and may we all Walk in Beauty!